Post date: Mar 11, 2019 4:35:32 AM
Uv’hagi’ah tor Esther bas Avichayil dod Mordechai
When the turn of Esther, the daughter of Avichayil (who was) the uncle of Mordechai, arrived
(2:15)
The Vilna Gaon tells us that secrets of the Torah are sometimes hidden even within the Trup (cantillation notes). He points out that from the Trup of our Pasuk (and the Trup of a couple of other nearby Pesukim), we can glean some very significant insights.
When the Pasuk describes the other women making their way to Achashveirosh as their turns arrived, the Pasuk says “Uv’hagiah tor na’arah v’na’arah lavo el hamelech,” when the turn of each woman came to go to the king (2:12). The Trup used is a “Kadma v’azla,” which literally means “got up and went.” This implies that each of the women went to the king with a sense of haste and enthusiasm. They were excited at the prospect of winning the eye of the king, and enjoying the power and prestige that would undoubtedly result from the life of living in the palace alongside the king.
However, when our Pasuk describes Esther making her way to Achashveirosh when her turn arrives, the Divrei Eliyahu points out that the Pasuk begins quite dramatically with no less than four “Munach” Trup notes. The Munach is a note that, essentially, forces the reader to drag out the reading a bit. He must slow down and pause after each word or phrase before continuing with the next word or phrase. The implication of the repeated use of the Munach here demonstrates Esther’s extreme reluctance in that moment. We can almost see her dragging her feet as she goes unwillingly.
Rabbi Aryeh Pinchas Strickoff notes something very similar in the very next Pasuk. When we’re told that Achashveirosh’s servants brought Esther to Achashveirosh, a “Kadma v’azla” is used. This is the same Trup that was used in reference to the other women making their way with haste and excitement to the king. But the difference this time, is that the Pasuk isn’t talking about Esther going to Achashveirosh, the Pasuk is talking about the servants taking Esther to Achashveirosh. It must have been that the servants were able to recognize something exceptional about Esther, and somehow they just knew that she was to be the one chosen by Achashveirosh. This unexplained sense caused excitement to well up inside of them, and they brought Esther to the king with great enthusiasm.
[Inside Purim, p. 220]